Mount Pocono is last holdout in Pocono Mountain Regional Police

Council president expects borough will rescind its intent-to-leave letter on April 1

Mount Pocono officials are starting to think that by the time the dust clears, they'll be able to give a firm "yes" to stay with the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department.

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By MICHAEL SADOWSKI

poconorecord.com

By MICHAEL SADOWSKI

Posted Mar. 9, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By MICHAEL SADOWSKI
Posted Mar. 9, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

Mount Pocono officials are starting to think that by the time the dust clears, they'll be able to give a firm "yes" to stay with the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department.

Borough Council President John Finnerty said he believes that at an April 1 meeting, the council likely will rescind its intent-to-leave letter, keeping all four municipalities of the department together for at least another 20 months.

If Mount Pocono were to rescind its letter, none of the municipalities would be able to leave the department until 2015.

"We had our own issues to work out, and to a large degree, I think we've worked a lot of them out," Finnerty said.

The department that looked like it was falling apart in December now is making strides toward pulling itself back together.

In December, both Coolbaugh Township and Mount Pocono submitted intent-to-leave letters that would have taken effect at the start of 2014.

However, Coolbaugh Township rescinded its letter this week.

"I was surprised and grateful," said commission Chairman John Kerrick about the decision. "I'm glad we were all able to get to a resolve and move forward."

Forward is now in Mount Pocono's hands.

The department's commission still has the borough's letter, and as late as Thursday, the borough was scrambling to schedule a council meeting for Monday — one day before the next police commission meeting.

That didn't happen, so now the next chance for a meeting — and a vote on the letter — likely will be April 1.

"That's two months earlier than we expected to decide, which is good," Finnerty said of the earlier, self-imposed deadline of June to come up with a decision.

For the last two months, a borough committee has been researching alternatives to the regional police force. The committee hoped to be ready to present a finished product in time for a meeting Monday, but decided the report wasn't ready.

"We have time," said Mayor Rich Dorkoski, a member of the committee. "We wanted to be thorough and complete. When push comes to shove, it's not a good idea to rush through this."

Dorkoski said he believes the report could be finalized in time for the April 1 meeting.